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Welcome To West Chesterfield

West Chesterfield is a small, tight-knit south side community near Chicago State University. The neighborhood boomed after the Illinois Central railroad began operation nearby over 100 years ago, and it has maintained strong ties to the local entrepreneurial business community ever since. West Chesterfield also has a proud tradition of working hard and maintaining safe and stable surroundings for its residents. As the population ages, the neighborhood is continually innovating to maintain its vitality and strength.

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Contents


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West Chesterfield Home Sales Statistics


West Chesterfield Facts

Location: About 13 miles south of the Loop
Boundaries: 87th Street to the north, Martin Luther King Jr. Drive to the east, 95th Street to the south and the Dan Ryan Expressway to the west
Bordering Neighborhoods: Burnside, Rosemoor, Princeton Park, Chatham, West Chatham
Crime Statistics: Go to CLEARMap to search specific streets and areas for crime incidents
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Then and Now

Once a swampy area known as Mud Lake -- more popular with hunters than humans looking for habitation -- West Chesterfield later developed into a small agrarian community on the outskirts of the city in the mid 1800s. Industrial development started slowly and it wasn't until the turn of the century, when steel mills started crowding the lakefront, that European immigrants began settling in the area to fill the open jobs.

By the early 1900s, West Chesterfield had a population of just 1,800, but the development of the nearby Illinois Central railroad yard caused a bump in growth. The 1920s brought the most dramatic increase as new residents, primarily European immigrants from Scandinavia and Austria, as well as Irish immigrants, moved into the neighborhood, causing the population to more than triple in the decade that spanned the 1920s. Housing, at the time, mostly consisted of small frame and brick dwellings and two-flat homes, many of which are still standing today.

As with many other Chicago neighborhoods, racial transition occurred in West Chesterfield quite rapidly. In 1950 the African American population of Chesterfield was less than 1 percent, but by 1960 it had jumped to 63 percent. Although there were some rough periods of cultural clashing, steered by hate talk and even a few physical attacks on African American property, the area did not see the extreme violence that scarred other nearby neighborhoods on Chicago's south side. Some credit the community organizations and churches in West Chesterfield for helping the neighborhood to progress in a positive direction during a time of turmoil. In the 1950s, middle-class African American families came to the area in huge numbers, drawn to the good schools, community organization, and abundance of employment. The demographic shift and steady labor base attracted several large businesses to the area, including Johnson Products (the company responsible for Ultra Sheen and Afro Sheen) and several successful banks.

In the 1990s, West Chesterfield saw increasing problems due to an aging population and gang-related crime. Luckily, community leaders and residents have worked together to devote time and energy to a number of revitalization projects designed to ensure that today it remains a comfortably solid middle-class neighborhood and a good place to raise a family.
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Real Estate

West Chesterfield is a family-oriented neighborhood of small bungalows, ranches and brick two-flats. The lots along the residential streets typically yield small yards in front and back, flanked by a side driveway that leads to a garage behind the house. While some of the properties are better maintained than others, the homes in West Chesterfield tend to be surrounded by trim lawns with plenty of greenery and wide sidewalks. The housing styles vary from house to the house with designs from the early and mid 1900s represented in addition to newer models bringing the neighborhood into the 21st century.

The close-knit community has developed over generations and many homeowners have watched their children grow up here. Students at nearby Chicago State University live in the neighborhood, as well, which has helped to offset the increasing age of West Chesterfield. The smaller neighborhood of West Chesterfield straddles the two larger community areas of Chatham and Roseland/Rosemoor. Although the residential real estate market throughout this section of town is relatively similar, West Chesterfield encompasses a combination of property values that reflect those of the surrounding regions. The average sales price for a three-bedroom single-family detached home in West Chesterfield is around $200,000, with some properties selling for as much as $635,000. Larger houses in the neighborhood typically sell for a little over $300,000, on average, but again, there is a span in prices that goes up to the high $800,000s and drops below $100,000for something that needs a great deal of work to be habitable.

As for multi-unit housing, the options in West Chesterfield include mostly townhomes, half-duplexes, and low-rise and vintage courtyard condominium buildings. The average sales price for a one- or two-bedroom unit is about $137,000, but some end up selling for somewhere in the mid $200,000s. New construction condos are also going up in the area with higher price tags (several in the $300,000s) but most of these units include a garage parking spot.

What's on the Menu?

West Chesterfield will never be confused with West Randolph Street in downtown Chicago, but there are a couple of restaurants in the neighborhood that will get you fueled up before you hit the road. For seafood enthusiasts, drop into Lowery's Shrimp House (316 E. 95th St., 773-264-0116). Gulf Coast fried shrimp is the specialty of this small neighborhood restaurant. The menu offers shrimp that can be prepared either "regular," which is simply dipped in batter, or "butterflied," which is split open with the same preparation. Both are tasty -- it's really just a matter of personal preference on which to ge -- but if you ask any patron in this West Chesterfield mainstay "which is better?" be ready for an earful of opinions that won't make the decision any easier. In addition to shrimp, Lowery's also serves fried chicken tenders and hot wings, and combination plates are available for under $7.

For a great Chicago hot dog that won't hurt the budget, try JJ's Top Dog (16 E. 95th St., 773-785-3600). This hot dog stand serves up a traditional Chicago-style dog with all the trimmings for under $3. That's no typo. JJ's has one of cheapest meals you can get in Chicago, and in our opinion one of the most classic. If you have another dollar to spare, make that meal a combo deal and JJ's will throw in fries and a soft drink. Most folks who eat here get take-away, although there are a few tables available if you can't wait to dig in.
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Getting Around

West Chesterfield is very close to the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94)as in, it borders the neighborhood on the westso if you are driving, it is simple to quickly get where you need to go by hopping on the highway. And vice versa, getting back to West Chesterfield couldn't be easier. From the Dan Ryan Expressway use the 87th Street exit and go east. Voila! You're right there, already on the northern edge of the neighborhood. When in West Chesterfield and you have your car, it's easy to park on either 95th or 87th streets, which are the two parallel roads that are the busiest in the area. Most of the side streets also have plenty of parking. Generally it's not too difficult to find a spot, but watch for any posted signs about restrictionsthose tickets are expensive and are guaranteed to ruin your day.

If traveling about the neighborhood without a vehicle, the most useful means of transportation is provided by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA). We think the CTA buses are quite efficient and we use the #29 running along State Street frequently. The northbound route takes passengers all the way to the Loop, and you don't even have to transfer. If you want to take in an exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry, hop on the #95E along 95th Street until Jeffrey, then transfer to the #15 bus and ride it north to 57th Street and enjoy a nice day learning all kinds of cool stuff.

In addition to the bus lines, the above ground train and subway system in Chicago is also convenient for getting around. There are two CTA Red Line stops in West Chesterfield along State Street at 87th or 95th streets. Both of the stations are in the median running between the inbound and outbound lanes of the Dan Ryan Expressway and the route follows the highway north to the Loop. The Metra electric train line to the Loop or the south suburbs also has three stops just a stone's throw away: 87th Street (at Dauphin Avenue), 91st Street (at Dauphin Avenue) and 95th Street (at Cottage Grove Avenue/Chicago State University). So, pretty much, no matter where you are heading, whether it be via train, bus or car, West Chesterfield residents don't have much trouble getting to their destination.
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School's in Session

Families in West Chesterfield find their neighborhood has a couple of grade schools available for young children who are in their first years of academia. Check out our Chicago Guide Schools page for more info on additional Chicago area schools and to find out where other nearby educational institutions are located.

Gillespie Elementary School 9301 S State St., (773) 535-5065
McDade Classical Elementary School 8801 S. Indiana Ave., (773) 535-3669
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Basic Needs

It's nice to know what everyday items you can expect to find next door to your house. That's why we have prepared a short list of places in West Chesterfield where you can get your bare essentials, from shampoo and bath soap to champagne and seedless grapes.

Libraries

Public Library Branch (Chicago Lawn) 6120 S. Kedzie Ave. (312) 747-0639

Transit

Chicago Transit Authority (888) 968-7282

Post Office

Grand Crossing - 7748 S Cottage Grove Ave.

Hospital Emergency Room

Trinity Advocate Hospital 2320 E. 93rd St., (773) 967-2000

Grocery Stores

Jewel 101 W. 87th St. - (773) 483 6500

Gyms

Curves 1718 E. 87th St., (773) 731-8204

Restaurants

Let's Eat 350 E 87th St. (773) 846 3002
Church's Chicken 400 E. 87th St. (773) 487 0408
McDonald's 29 E. 87th St. (773) 783 4595
Lowery's Shrimp House 316 E 95th St (773) 264-0116
JJ's Top Dog 16 E. 95th St. (773) 785 3600
KFC 737 E. 87th St. (773) 488 7927

Chesterfield Community Council: www.chesterfieldcommunitycouncil.org
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Sometimes it makes more sense to view the city of Chicago as a bunch of separate neighborhoodsespecially when it comes to real estate. Whether you are in the market for a loft, condo, townhome, or house, it is just as important to inspect the surrounding area as it is to inspect the home's foundation. West Chesterfield neighborhood is just one Chicago community with an abundance of residential properties, and a life all its own. From where you send your kids to school to where you dine at night, the information we provide is an essential piece of the puzzle when you're trying to decide whether or not to buy that beautiful loft or adorable house in West Chesterfield.
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